What Christians Should REFUSE to Do

Christians have NO PLACE in political office!!!

Jesus and the early Christians of the first three (3) centuries refused political protest, to become alarmed by current political events, and/or to utilize political power. American “Christianity” has much to learn here.

"It is not for the purpose of escaping public duties that Christians decline public offices, but that they may reserve themselves for a diviner and more necessary service in the Congregation of God—for the salvation of men." —Origen (AD 185-253)

"We have no pressing inducement to take part in your public meetings; nor is there anything more entirely foreign to us than affairs of state." —Tertullian (AD 155-220)

An early letter to Diognetus describes the early followers of Jesus:

"They live in their own countries, but only as non-residents; they participate in everything as citizens, and endure everything as foreigners. Every foreign country is their fatherland, and every fatherland is foreign."

Jesus had said, "They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world," and the early Christians believed Him! They were not alarmed by the political events of their day because they were focused on another Kingdom. American Christians have yet to figure this truth of reality out.

Study early Christian history and take note of all the political upheaval that was occurring in the first century. Why do we read nothing of these events in the New Testament writings? Acts is very detailed in its account, yet it mentions nothing of the political happenings of their day. Paul and the other apostles never see fit to mention any of the political happenings of their day. The believers are never told to protest, or rebel, or anything of the sort, and we see the same in the writings of the Christians of the next two centuries. We have lost sight of their focus.

Genuine biblical Christians of any country should never be patriotic! Your only allegiance is to King Jesus and the Kingdom of God. Your Royal Law of conduct is to "love one another, just as I have loved you." You are to love your enemies and do good to them, regardless of how they treat you. Period. End of debate.

What did Jesus refuse to do?

1. He refused political protest.
2. He refused to discredit the authority of earthly leaders.
3. He refused to utilize heavenly forces.
4. He refused to take timing into His own hands.
5. He refused to utilize popularity or political power.

What did the Congregation refuse to do?
(At least the Congregation of the first 3 centuries.)

1. They refused to seek political office.
2. They refused public protests.
3. They refused to use violence or military force.
4. They refused to become alarmed about current political events.

What have we forgotten?

1. We have forgotten the Jesus way.
2. We have forgotten we cannot be followers without following.
3. We have forgotten the beauty of the Kingdom.
4. We have forgotten the lesson of Constantine.

What is The Lesson of Constantine? Mixing Church and State may have improved Constantine’s government, but it contaminated, corrupted, and weakened the Congregation. He rolled out the red carpet for them and they fell for the bait. We have never recovered from this!

Anyone who knows history knows that the Catholics, Lutherans, Calvinists, etc., did not behave this way. They were ignorant of the Scriptures and lived according to the flesh, pursuing fleshly things. The Reformers were not any better than the Catholics. Martin Luther and John Calvin created their own State religions and set themselves up as the Popes of their own sects. They warred with the Catholics and each other, including the passive Anabaptists. Emperor Constantine and the Catholics behaved and conducted themselves in ways that were contrary to the words of Jesus and how the early Christians acted. When I say that Emperor Constantine and the subsequent Catholic Church turned Christianity upside down and that we have NEVER recovered from those errors introduced, I am not exaggerating or understating it. The early Christians knew what it was to "love your enemies" compared to your typical Western (especially North American) "Christian" who wants to fight everybody. From Constantine onward, war and violence became acceptable to professing Christians, whereas for the first three centuries is was absolutely opposed.